Bi-Glass Window System - Any Experience?

20 years ago

My old house has 26 windows in real disrepair. The previous owners had not performed maintainence of any kind for nearly 30 years. The double hung, 2 over 1 windows, with cords and weights, are in awful shape.

The pockets are so drafty that I want to have them sealed and insulated.

I was going to then get repacement windows until I heard about the Bi-Glass system (http://www.bi-glass.com/). Their website explains their process: "In a Bi-GlassÂ® conversion, your original window sash is removed from the frame by a trained technician. The sash is taken outside your home to a mobile workshop. Here the technician uses a patented tool to route out the old window putty and glass. This makes room for the new, insulated glass which is installed using glazing tape and caulking. The interior muntins (grillwork) always remain intact and virtually unchanged. On the exterior of the glass we apply a muntin that matches the interior grid thereby retaining the authentic look of your original single-glazed window. In addition, we install new jambliners, hidden balances, weather-stripping, insulation, and locks to eliminate all drafts. The sashes are then reinstalled into their openings and adjusted to fit snugly."

Sorry for the long description.

-Does anyone have experience with this system?

-If not, what do those with experience think?

THANKS!!!

HB

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Comments (3)

mike35
20 years ago
Interesting. I've never heard of this company, or this process. I'm curious to learn more.
I'd check into warranty, and compare pricing with these and replacement sash kits, also called sash packs.
The website says they are all franchises, so you'll want to research the local installer as well. Get references, for both the installer and the product.
I am a bit concerned that the website says if the existing frame is rotted, they'll patch it with epoxy before installing the new sash. If the frame is rotted, patching it only hides the problem. There is a water management issue, and if it's been long enough, the rot goes a lot deeper than the frame.
I'm not sure how many options you'll have, but I'd want at least 2 or 3 quotes/opinions for the project.
Good luck.
qdome_netscape_net
18 years ago
This is an old thread, but I have just recntly stumbled on Bi-Glass and the process seems to marry both worlds. In my case, 100 yeard old wavy glass was broken when my 4-yr old's chair went through the glass. As the old glass isn't shatter proof, we were very lucky as she was unharmed.

I researched replacements and found Bi-Glass. They remove the old window, remove the glass, rout the inside of the sash and retrofit it with dual-pane clear or wavy glass that can be Low E and/or Argon. The glass thinkness is 3/8 to 5/8" thickness. It is then re-installed properly.

Bi-Glass system also retrofits your old window with a vinyl PVC, foam backed jam liners (allowing the til-in feature of replacement windows), or restores the current weight and pulley. If you use their retrofit, they do, in fact, insulate and fill the holes left by the old weight system. This Old House endorsed the product on a show, as well.

In terms of marrying the best of both worlds, this seems to be it. I love my old house, but I have no doubt that the guy who built it would have put in better (or perhaps "more functional" is a better term) windows had the option been available. He wouldn't have used horse-hair plaster is pre-primed wallboard was down at the mill.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bi-glass website
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needynightowl
17 years ago
I live in Brighton, MA and need asap a TRUSTWORTHY, talented
restoration person (someone mentioned that she hired someone
around here).

The information I read here (my first time on line in any kind
of forum) was incredibly helpful. Thanks to you ALL!! You saved me time and money.

Now, if anyone knows of someone around here that doesn't have a conflict of interest/ a hidden agenda etc. but knows
about old houses (l920 Cape that we love and have been in
for 30 years and want to have for long long time to come)
Interested in energy efficiency (husband rides bike, refuses
a.c. etc. like those above) but will care if the costs are
prohibitive (i.e. what's the matter with the storms that we
have?) So, I will need someone really good at explaining why/what he/she is doing that will preserve the integrity of
the windows/house while being energy efficient as contractors just want to sell replacements (that look good)
and those I spoke to will"restore them" (they don't specify
how...) and none of them mentioned storms etc. except for someone who said, I can restore them but I sell and will show you bi-glass...something I knew nothing about before
today. So, HELP?!?!??? Thanks. Now, off to bed.